Moussa Dembele got another goal for the French Under 21 team last night. He was excellent, all told, and has scoring record for them is now very formidable.
He is desperately unlucky that he has burst onto the scene at a time when their national team is very, very strong. But it’s good for him and for Celtic that this is so.
Moussa is the one player at Parkhead right now who I believe has most earned an improved deal. If he signed one we could realistically expect him to be here for a further two years at least. He would be in his mid-twenties when he makes his next move, and that would give him plenty of time to wind up wherever in the game he wants to be.
I think he would sign that deal. I think he would commit to that future. One of the reasons it might be the right time to ask him is that he’s already missed the World Cup window. The next competition on his radar for the French team will be the Euros in 2020. If is scoring for the Under 21’s this regularly the national coaches can’t ignore him.
Two more years of Champions League football will prepare him for the next phase of his career. The World Cup window is now closed; he may feel that to maximize his chances of a Euro Championship place that he has to be playing at a higher level … but he will also be considering what exactly that means. Playing for a mid-table battler – or perhaps not playing at all – will not get him there. He has to be playing every week, and in the spotlight.
Staying at Celtic on an improved deal is a no-lose for this guy. Celtic keeping him on an improved contract for the next two campaigns is a no-lose for us. I cannot understand why we’ve not done this already. He is a valuable asset, on the pitch. If the reports that he is happy at the club are true then it makes sense to give both parties that security.
Deal him in, Celtic. Make our summer for us.